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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Adrienne M. Holloway, Ph.D. Chief Innovation Officer
DATE: April 13, 2018
SUBJECT:
A Resolution appointing members to the newly established Aurora Education Commission.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this memo is to recommend the appointments of twenty-two members to the newly established Aurora Education Commission.
BACKGROUND:
The Aurora Education Commission was established on December 19, 2017 via Aurora City Council vote. It was created to develop, execute and support educational initiatives that will prepare our residents for education and workforce success.
DISCUSSION:
A committee consisting of staff and community representatives reviewed applications and resumes of interested applicants with the goal of appointing the inaugural group to establish commission priorities. Below are the candidates for the Aurora Education Commission:
School Districts
Dr. Karen Sullivan, Superintendent, School District 204
Dr. John Sparlin, Superintendent, School District 308
Dr. Jeff Craig, Superintendent, School District 129
Dr. Lisa Hichens, Superintendent, School District 101
Dr. Steven Megazzini, Interim-Superintendent, School District 131
Dr. Todd Leden-Superintendent, Kaneland
Private Schools
Dr. Jose Torres, President, IMSA
Dr. Collette House, Superintendent, Aurora Christian
Phil Lundquist, Principal, Covenant Christian School
Lynor Johnson, Director, Fox Valley Montessori
Karen Behrns, Principal, Our Lady of Good Counsel
Colleges/Universities
Dr. Rebecca Sherrick, President, Aurora University
Maria Lopez, Director, St. Augustine College
Dr. Christine Sobek, President, Waubonsee Community College
Dr. Mablene Krueger, President, Robert Morris University
Early Childhood
Mariana Osorio, Director, Family Focus
Patricia Rooney-Director, Strong, Prepared and Ready for Kindergarten (SPARK)
At-Large
Sandra Harrison, Program Director, Leaders In Transformational Education
Christine Anderson, EL Curriculum Coordinator, West Aurora School District
Business
Carl Wegman, President, R.C. Wegman Construction Company
Dhevi Kandasamy, Co-Founder, Orthosie
Alderman
Alderman Edward Bugg
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The impact on the city will be minimal and will be outweighed by the positive benefits to be achieved by the establishment of the Aurora Education Commission:
*Some staff time will be required to assist the Aurora Education Commission with navigating city resources such as use of meeting space and planning and execution of collaborative initiatives.
*The 2018 budget will support Aurora Education Commission activities with an allocation of $5,000 in account 101-1370-440.50.88.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends approval of this resolution appointing the above twenty-two members to the Aurora Education Commission.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution appointing members to the newly established Aurora Education Commission.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, (the City of Aurora established the Aurora Education Commission to facilitate strategic partnerships that can bring forth valuable educational and workforce development initiatives to the City of Aurora; and
WHEREAS, the newly established Education Commission is in need of members; and
WHEREAS, it is the Mayor’s desire that the candidates listed in the furnished memo be appointed to said commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: hereby approve the appointments of Dr. Karen Sullivan, Dr. John Sparlin, Dr. Jeff Craig, Dr. Lisa Hichens, Dr. Steven Megazzini, Dr. Todd Leden, Dr. Jose Torres, Dr. Collette House, Phil Lundquist, Lynor Johnson, Karen Behrns, Dr. Rebecca Sherrick, Maria Lopez, Dr. Christine Sobek, Dr. Mablene Krueger, Mariana Osorio, Patricia Rooney, Sandra Harrison, Christine Anderson, Carl Wegman, Dhevi Kandasamy, Alderman Edward Bugg as members of the Aurora Education Commission